Our Organisation

The CPS Board

The CPS corporate governance structure is headed by the CPS Board, and supported by the Audit Committee, Directors Group, and Chief Crown Prosecutors Group.

Corporate governance is the way in which organisations are directed and controlled. It defines the distribution of rights and responsibilities among the different stakeholders and participants in the organisation, determines the rules and procedures for making decisions on corporate affairs including the process through which the organisation's objectives are set, and provides the means of attaining those objectives and monitoring performance.

The CPS Areas

The CPS is divided into 13 geographical Areas across England and Wales. Each Area is led by a Chief Crown Prosecutor (CCP) who is responsible for the provision of a high quality prosecution service in their Area. Each CCP is supported by an Area Business Manager (ABM), and their respective roles mirror, at a local level, the responsibilities of the DPP and Chief Executive. Administrative support to Areas is provided by Area Operations Centres. A 'virtual' 14th Area, CPS Direct, is also headed by a CCP and provides out-of-hours charging decisions to the police.

Casework Divisions

Five specialist casework divisions deal with the prosecution of all cases investigated by the Serious & Organised Crime Agency, Independent Police Complaints Commission, UK Borders Agency, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department of Work and Pensions, Department of Health and Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs as well as serious crime, terrorism, fraud and other challenging cases that require specialist experience.

Headquarters

A small headquarters sets the national framework within which the CPS operates, attends to those issues that need central agreement, and delivers those services that can only be efficiently delivered centrally; i.e. Human Resources and Communication.